Therapeutic apparatus



G. BUECKLE.

THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS March 25, 1924. 1,487

inal Filed Dec. 14. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES GEOEEEOEC/QE A TTOH/VEYS Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT.OFFICE.

GEORGE BUECKLE, or mounta n, NEW YORK.

".cnnanrnurrc APPARATUS.

Application filed December 14, 1920, Serial No. 430,600.. Renewed June 14, 1923.

T00 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE BUEQKLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of .Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings and State-of New York, have invented a new and Improved Therapeutic Apparatus, of which the following, is a full, clear, and exact description. V

This invention relates to therapeutic bathing apparatus of the type in which an electric current is caused to circulate through a bathingfluid contained in atub in-whichjth'e treatment is administered; ,1 ,1

An object of the invention is to provide .a simple and 'efiicientmeans whereby the flow of current through the liquid in the tub may be controlled at the will of-theoperator and with a minimum expenditure of time on the part of the operator in so controlling the controlling means 1s such) that it can be flow of current, whereby the distraction of hisattention from the patientisreduced to aminimumn A further object resides in the provision of the particular switching arrangement whereby with a minimum number of manipulations any operator can procure the desired flow of current. i

A further object resides in theprovision of a switchingarrangement-and connection between the same and the tub whereby a much wider range of selection in the flow entire installation; g

of current can be obtained, thereby rendering more eificientthe physical treatment resulting in the selective application of current to the body of the patient.

A still further object resides in the particular construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings.

In devices hitherto used for the electrical treatment of patients, wherein a tub having a plurality of electrodes disposed therein in any desired manner is used in connection with a bathing fluid, there have been used complicated electrical connecting devices whereby the application of potential and the direction of flow of the current from one is .a marked and distinct .vices hitherto used. i, e

operator not only was a wasteof time but distracted his-"attention from the patient.

Furthermore, withsuch a plurality of operations required to obtain the desired currentfiow, an operator was forced to be particularly familiar with the apparatus and,

therefore, but; everyoperator could manipulate the device. Also, in devices hitherto used, it has not been possible to direct the current flOWg-iIl any conceivable direction beof a simple and easily manipulated device I advantage over de- Furthermore, the character of my current mounted on and within the usual panelboard .yvhich can .be enclosed from view when not the possibility of breaking the wires where .such'wires areexposed and in constant use.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, of which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the -Figure 2-is a diagrammatic view of the swltchboard 1 Flgure 3 s a detail view of the switch:

Figure 4: is a perspective view of the tub showing-the electrode disposed therein.

As shown in the drawings, with special reference to Figure 1, in the application and 'operation of my invention I employ a tub 1 which may be of any suitable material, such as slate or other non-conducting, watertight material. On the inner faces ofthe walls of this tub are disposed a plurality of electrodes 2. These electrodes are disposed verticallyin grooves 3 formed in the walls of the tub and are arranged in pairs one above the other in each groove. 1 trical current flow between the electrodes of The eleceach pair is effected by the contact between abutting edges. These electrodes are arranged, as shown in Figure 4, in pairs, three pairs on each side and two pairs at each end of the tub. Thepairs of electrodes. at the electrodes 12 and 13,'the center electrodes;

end f thetub are caldegli the head electrodes, whereas the electrodes-at the opposite end 5 of the tub are called the foot elec trodes. The electrodesarranged-in theside Walls of the tub are, considering them in order from the head 4 to the-foot 5= of the tub, called upper, center and lower electrodes. The electrodes 2=-areremovable from the grooves 3 and can be interchanged at will among the various-grooves and with-respect to the various-electrodes I-his interchangeability permits the electrodes to i be cleaned frequently, whereby the sanitary condition of the apparatus maintained to a high degree.

' "For instance, the'pairs of'electrodes 6 and 7 are the head electrodes, whereas the pairs of electrodes '8 and'9 are-the foot'electrodes. Gonsequently, the pairs of electrodes 10and '11 are jthe upper electrodes; 'the'pairs'of various electrodes from the switching apparatusare em'beddedand covered by any suit able insulating cement. 'Each of these w res,

' of course, -'is insulated from the others and is tapped out at suitable intervals to connect it with its proper electrodes. In Figure 4, cables 17 and 18 are shown, each having five wires therein, thee-ables 17 connecting with the electrodes oneside of the tub including a foot and head electrode, and the cable 18 connecting with the electrodes on the other side of the metal lining of the tub. A plura'lity of'flue pipes 19, 20 and 21 are provided with faucets, such as 22, through-whichany suitable fluid may be introduced into the tub.

For the purpose of supplying the cur-rent necessary to the operation of the invention, any suitable source of current may be used; that shown in the drawings, in Fig. 1, preferably being a direct-current dynamo 23 connected by wires 24 and 25 to a main switch 26 which is preferably an ordinary cut-out'orknife switch mounted on a panel board 27. Mounted on the switchboard 27 isa resistance controller 28 of any suitable "type which isconnected by wire 29 to one 'oneof the middle points of'a double-throw e of the switch '26 and by a wire 30 to reversing switch 31'. The other middle point of this double-throw'switch 31 is connected by a wire 32 to the other side of the switch 26: By means of th'e resistance controller 281' can control the value of the current flowing to the electrodes in the tub 1'. A volt meter 33"is connected in the usual manner across the wires '30 and 32.

Arranged'on the switchboard 27 are two 80f saidbuttonsare dead, either by being insulated or by being disconnected from the restof the apparatus in any suitable manner.

The two series of contact buttons are alike except thatthey ='l'ead to electrodes on diiferent sides of the tub which may be deemed to be centrally dividedthrough itslength by an imaginaryline 3 passing therethrough Inasmuch as the series of buttons on both sides of the switchboard are alike,adescription of'one series will suffice for both These conta-ct'but tons are preferably arranged in the arc of a circleand' are numbered from 40 to 54 on' the "left-hand side of the-switchboard, and from 40 to 54' on the right-hand side of the switchboard 27. It'will'be' noted that from 40 to the alternate contacts-are dead or insulated, that-is to say, contact 40 is insulated while contact'41'is a livecontact;

42 is insulated and 43is alive contact,'and so on down to 'contact5'0, which 'i s in'sulated Contacts '51 to 53 are all "live contacts,

.w l'i'ile contact isYinSulated. As above 'statiedthe dive contacts are connected to the electrodesin the bathtub, contact 41 being c-onnectedbya wirej55-to-thehead electrode 6 contaet 43 beinglconnectedfby' a Wire 56130 the left hand 'up'per' electrode 10; contact 45 being connected by a wire 57 with the [left hand= center el'eotrodell2; contact 47 being connectedby wire 58 to the lower left-hand electrode 14; contact 49 being'connected by a wire 59 tothe deft-hand foot electrode 8; and contacts 51, 52 and53 being connected respectively by wires 60, -61 and 62with-contacts 43, 45 and 47 respectively; The contact buttons on the right-hand side of the switchboard, which are denoted by numbers similar to those on the left \Vlthltll addition of a prime after each number, are connected in an identically simi'la'r' manner with the electrodes ",7, 11,, 13, 15 and '9 on the right-hand side of the tub, 1 shown in Figure 1. The interconnections of these contact buttons are identically similar to the connections above described with reference to the buttons on the left-hand side of the switchboard. For this reason any detail description-of the buttons on the righthand side of the board is not made. The buttons 51 to 53 and 5 1 to 53 may betermed auxiliary contact buttons for convenience of description since they are interconnected with certain other contact buttons above described.

'P-i-vota'lly mounted at opposite sides of the switchboard are the switch arms 63 and 63,

the-former 'beinggrnounted on a conducting stud 64, the latter, on a conducting stud 64'. The switch arm *63is connected by a wire 65 to one side of the switch '31 whereas the switch arm 63 is connected by a wire-65-' to the other side of the switch 31. Since the switch 31 is a double pole reversing switch, moving it in one directionor the'other will apply opposite polarities to the switch arms 63 and63', in accordance with the position of the switch 31; Each of these switch arms 63 and 63' is capable of being moved over the entire'seris of contacts in which they are relatedn'The detail construction of these switch arms is best-shown in Figure 3, from which it will be noted that eacharm is constructedin the form of a fork having three tines 66. A button or handle portion 67 is disposed on each of the armsto facilitate the movement of the switch arm over the contact given a. name, such as'head,,'upper, center, lower and foot, corresponding to the electrodesfinthe' tub 1 but which are electrically connected.

In treating apatient by means of the ap- "paratus above described, the cataphoric action of the'currentismade use of, and it is desired that thecurrent shall pass in a'direction or directions calculated-to give the greatest efliciency for the purpose of attaining the object inviewi I Ordinarily'it -is desired that the current shall pass from one side'of the tub to theother, through thepatients body, the point on one side of. the tub from which the current passes not necessarily being exactly opposite the point on the other side of the tub to whichthe current is directed.

In other words, the desired action may be along a diagonal line 'or in a. varyingly eccentric line, all of which can be accomplished by my invention.

As the'conn'ections and positions of the switching devices are shown inFigure 1, it is desired that a positive current of electricity should pass through the patients body from the right-hand lower side of the body to the upper left-hand sideof the head, the heavy dotted line 68 in the drawing of the tub in Figure 1 indicating approximately the direction of the desired current flow. It will be noted, at the switchboard 27, that the switch arm 63 has its central tine connecting with the head contact 41, while the other tines are connected to the insulated contact buttons 40 and 42. On the other side the switch arm 63' has its central tine contacting with the lower contact button 47 the other tines of this arm being connected to the insulated contact buttons 46' and 48. The circuit through the apparatus for this position of the switch arms 63 and 63 would be as follows: Through dynamo 23, positive side, to wire 25, switch 26, wire 29, resistance conother side of switch 31, back through wire 32 to switch 26, wire 24, to the other side of the dynamo 23. By suitably adjusting the switch arms at the opposite sides of the switchboard, it will be obvious that current may be caused topass through the bathtub from one side to the other, the general direction of the current being defined by a line which maybe inclined at practically any angle. For example, if it'is desired to have the current pass from the central left-hand electrode to the head right-hand electrode 7, the switch arm 63 would be moved so that its middle tine would rest on the contact button 45, while the switch arm 63' would be moved so that its middle tine rested on the contact button 41. It is thought that the circuits thus closed are obvious without further detail description thereof. Therefore, the current will flow from any electrode on the on the left-hand side of the tub, in accordance with the position of the switch arms 63'and 63. If the position of switch 31 is reversed, of course, the current will then flow from the left-hand side of the tubto the right-hand side of the tub by reason of the change in polarity effected in this manner.

Owing to the fact that in the main series of contact buttons each alternate button is insulated, only one tine 66 of the forks of the switch arm will contact with a live button in any given position, the middle tine being the one to contact with a live button, while the other two tines will cont-act with insulated buttons.

Vith reference to the series of auxiliary contact buttons 50 to 54 above mentioned, it will be noted that the three live buttons 51, 52 and 53 are placed adjacent each other on each side of the switchboard. The object of these auxiliary buttons is to enable the circuit to pass through any given number of electrodes at one side of the tub to any given number on the opposite side of the tub. If, for example, the switch arm 63 is moved so that its three tines rest on the contact buttons 51, 52 and 53, and the switch arm 63 is moved over its contact so that one tine only of arm 63 rests on contact button 51, then tactbuttons of theeaixiliaryseriesa .llhere will thenabea-fiow of current from the three An observation of this operationwill result in the'conclusion that, almostany num- -ber of, combinations of" cun'ent, flow can be achieved by this arrangement, and the foregoing examples have simply beenigiven as .1

p The pole changing device or reversing switch illustrative of the possibilities of the device.

31 is employed in, the treatment of, certain physical ailments, if ,desir-able, with a positi-ve current entering the body; while in the have been 'obta-ined itthe current entering the body is negative.

treatment of otherzailments, better results .In Figure; 1 ,.--the' dotted lines shown .in f the --bathtub I: are illustrative of a numberof idifi'erenticombinations of current courses which may be,- obtained by a suitable diu tmnte i he ne e swi ch cu s n ,the vcontact buttong-g Itiwill be obvious that h ra g i of wqrk l -ish aiade aa tended by the addition-of electrodes to; the

tub and, the corresponding additioncf .con-

tact, buttons to the J series shown inthedraw- -.1I- I A co ideration of the aboye-mentioned description of thefstructure and operation of. theiapparatus involved in my invention gives rise to the-perception that thisgdev-ice is entirely devoid-of any cumbersome plug or socket connections; that all: wires in the system are properly disposed in positions wherethe likelihood of breakage isreduced to a minimrun; that the operating apparatus on the'sswitchboard is properly enclosed except when in use, taking up a minimum amount of space; that'the operator can, by

the simple adjustment of a pair of-switch arms'on the board, selectively direct the current through the tub in agreat number of directions; and that the, manipulation of these switches require on his part the expenditure of a minimum amount of time and knowledge of the-apparatus, so that substantially his entire attention can be given to the-patient.

It will, of course, be understood that many minor modifications can be made in the structure and in the application of the apparatus shown without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is: Y

1. A controlling device for therapeutic apparatus having a; plurality of electrodes, which comprises a panelboard, a plurality of contacts disposed onrthepanelboard and connected with the electrodes, the successive contacts so connected being separated by insulating contacts, a switchwarm, and asource of power, said switch arm adapted to be moved selectively toenergize the various .;contacts but the-width of the switch arm being insufficient to span the space between successive live contacts.

2. A controlling device for therapeutic apparatus having a plurality of electrodes,

which'comprises .a. panelboard, ,a rotatable switch arm on said board,,a source of power of the switch .arm being spaced apart but separated. by insulated contacts whereby. in

; this ,portionof the movement of the switch arm the ,arm can make contact only with one .h-ve contact, at a time, the contacts along another portion of the path of movement of the switch arm being disposed adjacent each other but permitting themenergization 0f more than onecontact Eat a time by the en- V gagement therewith ofv the switch arm. e

3.- A controlling device vfor therapeutic apparatus having a plurality 'Of electrodes, which comprises ,a switchiarm, a source of power connected thereto, and ,a plurality of contacts connected to, the}electrodes.and disposedin the path of moyementof; the switch arm, certain of the contacts. along one por- .tion of the path of movement of the switch arm being disposed a. sufficient distance apart: to prevent energization of .morethan one contact at one timeby the arm, certain of the contacts along another'portion of, the path of movement of the switch arm being spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit the energization by the switch arm of more than one of the contacts at a time.

4. A controlling device for therapeutic apparatus having a plurality of electrodes arranged in sets, which comprises a panelboard, a plurality of sets of contacts thereon connected to respective sets of electrodes, a switch arm for each set of contacts, and circuit connections between the switch, arms, the contacts and the electrodes permitting the energization of the electrodes singly for certain: positions of the-switch arm andin groups for other positions of the switch arm.

5. A controlling device for therapeutic vapparatus, comprising incombination a tub having a plurality-ofsets of electrodes-therein, a plurality of sets of contacts connected respectively to the sets of electrodes, a power source, a switch arm connected thereto, and circuit connections between the switch arm, the electrodes and the contacts whereby the electrodes may be selectively energized singly and'in groups at the will of the operator GEORGE BUECKLE. 

